YORK, Pa.– A week after taking Messiah to the brink in. Double-overtime loss, Eastern University Men's Soccer found faced a critical MAC Commonwealth road test at York College . The Eagles were unable to rally from an early two-goal deficit and dropped a critical three points in the play-off hunt.

The host Spartans (5-7-3, 3-3) picked up the only goal they would need in the third minute on a run up the right side and a cross behind the Eastern back row.

The Eagles did not register their first shot on goal until the 27th minute. The Spartans picked up an insurance goal on a restart from the right side in the 36th minute, A long cross to the back post resulted in a header from in close.

Down two, the Eagles (8-5-2, 2-4) pressed forward for the remainder of the game, but the Spartans, without a requirement to create, kept the game in front of them and forced the Eagles into speculative opportunities.

Astern out-shot the hosts by a 4-2 margin in the second half. But only one of those shots went on frame.

With the loss, the Eagles are in a precarious spot for a post-season bid. They have to win out in their final two matches against Widener and Albright and hope York is unable to secure three points in a home match against Stevenson and a road test at Widener. A York win or Eastern non-win would eliminate the Eagles from the post-season.

The Eagles own a win at Lebanon Valley, the Dutchmen are currently the second seed, and led in the 87th minute against top-seeded Messiah, but they have dropped contests to the three teams immediately in front of them in the standings.

Eastern hosts Widener at 3:00 pm on Wednesday.